All his life, Shane Bryant has had a secret, he’s superhumanly strong. Of course, now that he accidentally killed a man on live television, it’s less a secret, and more a target on his back. Your Major Spoilers review of The Gimmick #5 from AHOY Comics awaits!

THE GIMMICK #5

Writer: Joanne Starer
Artist: Elena Gogou
Colorist: Andy Troy
Letterer: Rob Steen
Editor: Tom Peyer and Sarah Litt
Publisher: AHOY Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 26, 2023

Previously in The Gimmick: Fugitive wrestler Shane Bryant is counting on his La Cara mask to get him through Fan Slam 5. Of course, that’s where everyone angry at him, betrayed by him, looking to use him, and/or seeking to arrest him is also headed.

Buuuuut I’m sure that’ll be fine.

ONE NIGHT ONLY!

On the run with Samantha, whose father’s head exploded after a miscalculation, Shane Bryant… sorry, La Cara has a shot at the big time in Las Vegas. Arriving in town just as Fan Slam fires up, Shane heads to the locker room to prepare, sending Samantha into the ladies’ locker room to prepare. That’s where she finds Alicia, who is both the top-billed star on the evening’s bill and the father of Shane’s son, who is now in the hands of Shane’s mom. Sam and Alicia watch in horror as Mama Bryant reveals that the boy also has super-strength, implying that Shane paralyzed his father, and subtly hinting that bad things could happen to the boy while begging her son to come home and face justice. Sam also crosses paths with federal agent Dwayne Johnson (no relation), who has been sent to capture the fugitive killer wrestler.

It’d all be a lot simpler if “La Cara” didn’t panic and take off his mask after seeing his mother and his son on television

NEVER TRUST A MOTHER-IN-LAW

On the one hand, there are a number of moments in this issue that stand out as well-done. Alicia’s panic at seeing her son on television, the back-and-forth between Sam and Shane, even the moment where a hospitalized friend dramatically pulls out his IV, only to be shocked by the amount of blood that spurts out. It’s those character moments that hold the book together, though, as the plotting feels a little too elastic. The amount of time that passes in the locker room doesn’t feel like it matches up to the amount of time in the ring, for one, and the final page convergence of three story threads is extremely hard to believe. I like the energy of the art a lot, as Gogou has an eye for crowd scenes, and does interesting action sequences, but her work feels unsuited for the moments in the actual wrestling ring. Even with that issue, I enjoy the ability her work has to convey emotions from a man in a lucha libre mask.

BOTTOM LINE: A LITTLE UNFOCUSED, BUT FUN

As a penultimate chapter, The Gimmick #5 does a good job of getting us into the characters’ heads, but moves characters around in ways that don’t quite make sense, with art that works more often than not wrapping up into 2.5 out of 5 stars overall. I like the premise and energy of this book a lot, and I feel like it’s one of those comics that will be an entirely different experience in a collected format, and I look forward to the wrap-up of the story next issue.

---

Dear Spoilerite,

At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

THE GIMMICK #5

53%

53%

An Argument for the OGN Format

The premise that Shane is a bit bland as a hero shows in the work, and the best parts of the story are all interpersonal moments between characters. The plot doesn't quite gel, though.

• Writing

  4
• Art

  6
• Coloring

  6
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
  0